Author's Notes: Thanks to the people who reveiwed :) Ahhh... Who's looking forward to a nice warm-and-fuzzies chapter? ME! Uhm... Enjoy... :P
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em...
"You should just get it over with.'' Shuu said, leaning against the railing beside me.
"Get what over with?" Uh-oh.
"You know what I mean." Sighing, he rested his chin on his hands. "You should talk to Touma."
Contrary to popular belief, Shuu is actually very perceptive. It is scary sometimes, how accurate he is when he interprets emotions. I should know, being quite good at it myself.
"I can't."
"Why not?" He baits, one blue-gray eyebrow raised.
"Because." Shit.
"Oh." Shuu shifts around, so that he is facing towards the house, with his elbows on the rail. "You know, for someone with such powerful psychic abilities, you're sure stunted when it comes to Touma's feelings." He looks at me sadly, "Unless you're doing that deliberately."
I can't hold his gaze, so I look out at the sunset. I don't want to know how Touma really feels, because I'm afraid it won't be what I feel. "I'm afraid he won't love me the way I love him." I say out loud.
"I know." Shuu's eyes appear occupied in thought.
"How did you -"
"I didn't. Shin came to me first," he smiled. "We defeated the Dynasty. That created a bond between us all, so on a basic level, we can all sense each other's feelings, right? It's likely that he already knows how you feel. Touma's probably just waiting for you to act on it. At least, that's what I think. If you want a second opinion, go to Shin. And if Ryou wakes up anytime soon, you could ask him too."
"Why don't we just have a group pow-wow with Nasty and Jun too?"
Shuu rolled his eyes at me. "Just giving you some options dude."
I shook my head. "I'd feel like some giddy little schoolgirl if I asked Ryou and Shin what they thought about what Touma thinks about me."
Laughing, Shuu nodded.
"Guys, come on in, dinner's on the table." Shin's voice came through the patio doors.
Whatever seriousness that had previously existed on Shuu's face, was instantly wiped away at the mention of food; and replaced with a huge, if not ravenous, grin. I followed him into the kitchen, where Shin stood in front of the stove.
"Wat'cha makin'?" asked Shuu, twining his arms around Shin's waist from behind.
"Sometimes I think you love me just because I can cook," the latter pouted. Shuu pretended to consider the statement for a moment. After a pause he said huskily,
"You can do a lot more than cook well, Shin."
Face bright red, Shin pulled away and turned around. Shuu seized the opportunity and gently pecked Shin on the lips, before stepping around him to grab plates to set out on the table. For Shin's sake, I too decided to act like nothing had happened, and started pulling cutlery out of a drawer. I walked into the dining room behind Shuu, carrying an armload of knives and forks, shaking my head.
"Poor Shin. You're such a tease, Shuu," stated Touma, sweeping into the room with cups in hand.
"I know, but I can't help it, he's just so cute." Shuu replied. "Especially when he's embarrassed."
As we finished setting the table, Nasty came in with Shin, carrying a salad and a bottle of home made French dressing, a recipe inherited from her mother. "He's been asleep for two days now; I'm starting to get worried."
"Ryou's just exhausted. Using the Kikoutei isn't exactly easy on the body. Give him some time to rest, he'll be fine." Shin soothed, setting a large bowl of miso soup in the middle of the table. I noticed that his cheeks were still tinged a light pink, and mentally chuckled. Obviously Touma and Shuu also noticed, because Shuu sat down with a self-satisfied smirk on his lips, and Touma let out a snicker and hid it by pulling back his chair with a loud thump.
"Where's Jun?" asked Nasty, also taking a seat.
"I'll get him, he's outside, I think," said Shin, jumping up, cheekbones still flushed.
Nasty, Touma and I all shared amused smiles, while Shuu pretended not to notice, and busied himself with his soup.
By the time Shin came back, with Jun in tow, we had all started eating, and his complexion had more or less returned to normal.
××××××
Lying in my bed, on the edge of a dream, I thought about what Shuu had said, and wondered if Touma really did know how I felt. I thought about opening up my shield against his thoughts, and decided against it. I'll ask him myself… Hum…. Tomorrow...Coward.
"Shut up." I told myself out loud, and rolled over. Stupid conscience.
Note: Don't you love Shuu/Shin fluff? Hee... Just so this doesn't confuse people, this part of the story is right after the troopers "defeated" Arago the first time. -runs away-
